I have been doing some soul searching since I have been in Europe. I have a lot of time to myself so it has really gotten me thinking... I want to make some sort of life change when I come home. I haven't been able to put my finger on it but being here and having the chance to explore what the world has to offer has given me a broader perspective on life. There is much more out there than just my home town. I had never really lived anywhere else growing up so moving to a new place, especially out of the country, and getting to know where things are and discover the beauties of where I live has been a new and exciting experience. Everyday we wake up and decide what to do and when we venture out I find something new along the way whether it is a coffee shop I hadn't been to or a park that I hadn't visited but each day its something new. My goal is to take more trips in CO, there are so many beautiful places that I have always wanted to go and never took the time to do it. I see all of these picturesque photos and think 'Oh I have to go there!' but I need to look in my own backyard first...
I was always afraid of moving away and adjusting to somewhere I wasn't used to but taking what I have learned here in the last semester I know I can do it anywhere I want. I feel like I have the experience and the willpower to be able to live wherever I want and make myself happy. My friends here have brought out the most social and adventurous side of me. Which is a side of myself that I like a lot and sometimes it doesn't always get to shine through. I am happiest in my element when the people around me are fun and share common interests. I also think doing a study abroad program throws together all kinds of people but it takes a certain quality to do what we do here. A certain thirst for adventure, mischief, and chaos is somewhere in every person here. I haven't clicked with a group of people like this since RLT freshman year. I am happy to have met some new lifelong friends; meeting new, good friends is so refreshing.

I realized that being here is the least stressed I will get to be for a very long time so I am trying to take advantage and learn more about restructuring my life around holistic practices that treat the body the mind and the soul.  I really want to focus my life on being more healthy when it comes to the kinds of foods I put into my body and how I treat it. I have been doing some research and there are so many aspects of living holistically that intrigue me. I have always thought of my characteristics as being flighty and imaginative but it is such a way of life that I love; I can sit around day dreaming and thinking about doing all kinds of wild and crazy things and then think about how I can actively make that happen for myself. True happiness is essential to your health and having a healthy body and mind are the first steps to achieving the ultimate goal. 

I took this quiz today and the results were so accurately 'me' that I was impressed for once.

You are undoubtedly Water

Your element is Water: You are imaginative, dreamy, artistic, and highly intuitive.
You love: following your moods wherever they lead.
You crave: validation and protection.
If you're single: Find someone who appreciates your sensitivity. Don't waste time with anyone who shrugs off your emotions as craziness.
If you're in a relationship: You know what your partner wants before he or she even asks. Don't overwhelm your mate when you feel worried or anxious.
Sex is: both emotional ecstasy and sensory pleasure.
If you love a Water: Give her imagination free rein. She wants to be understood, so listen.

It says I am longing to be understood and that goes a long way in explaining me, I want people to be able to relate to me and understand why I think the way I do. I follow my moods wherever they lead me, if I am feeling particularly curious I will take a walk and go in a direction that looks interesting. Why not? I try to have such an appreciation for the small things in life, I like to walk slowly behind the group so I can relish each moment and take in each sight. I was walking one night and a friend told me to stop and look up. I looked up and there were a bunch of huge statues on the wall that I never would have noticed because most of the time people are going from point A to B and don't slow down to look around.
I like to stop and breathe fresh air and appreciate being in the beautiful city I am in, I like to take a million pictures so that I can look back through these pictures and remember how much fun I had and relive each moment. These experiences are what make up the best memories in life which is why this is my year of yes, I will always remember 2011 for the amazing places I have seen, crazy things I have done and amazing people I have met. These are the things about me that I think are so important in knowing the free spirit that I truly am.